Giddy fans celebrate like crazy over the San Francisco Giants' World Series win

SAN FRANCISCO -- As the inevitable Giants baseball victory began to light up more than 10,000 giddy fans gathered in the civic center, a crazed countdown began about 8:45 p.m. Sunday evening: "One more out!" the crowd shrieked with ragged but joyful voices.

And then, when the final pitch led swiftly to the final out, the monstrous gathering of delirious fans who had been watching the World Serles from Detroit on massive, outdoor television monitors let out a roar that echoed off every concrete surface within miles of the broadcast miracle. Countless bottles of champagne popped and sprayed, and the black October sky suddenly filled with the cheerful, colorful glows from fireworks.

"This is the most incredible feeling ever," shouted Lynnell Hannah, a 27-year-old San Francisco resident. Like many laughing, smiling, screaming, dancing fans, Hannah captured all the excitement all around her on her cellphone camera.

"This is a feeling that's indescribable," said Alfonzo Wray, 30, of San Francisco.

Alan and Vanessa Wray of San Martin were especially in awe of hero Marco Scutaro, who had the game-winning hit.

"He's a machine with people on base," said Alan Wray.

Across town

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While there were tens of thousands of viewing parties all over the Bay Area, across San Francisco, down in the neighborhood around the Giants' AT&T Park, all bars and restaurants were packed full and crazy for most of the day. As the game went back and forth, no one could relax -- even the many who brought along brooms. Numerous fans carried those universal symbols for what the Giants hoped for -- to beat the Detroit Tigers four straight games to claim the championship of Major League Baseball.

When they did just that in the bottom of the 10th inning, thousands of insanely happy fans burst out of the eateries and drinkries and rushed down to Willie Mays Plaza, right outside the stadium. They were waving brooms and singing out, "Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!" Part of the relief of dancing around the famed Mays bronze statue was obvious. So, many fans had packed the bars for hours, and others were stuck for the duration in stilled lines. Many had helplessly peered at the game through sweaty windows because they simply could not get into any establishment.

"You want to be in this environment, where the fans are enthused," said Emily Loi of Burlingame.

"It was sweet that they did it again," bleated Joey Nguyen of San Jose. "I could get used to this." Meanwhile, Joey's cousin Viet Nuygen was wildly waving a broom and said, "We're here all the time. We are die-hards, and now we're ready for the parade."

Heartfelt fireworks

At the prime bars near the stadium, such as MoMo's and The Public House, the buildup of the competitive game made the atmosphere inside extra crazy. As the bottom of the 10th inning began, with the Detroit Tigers up for the last time, a lusty chant started in the bars that simply demanded, "Three more outs!"

Just before the end of the game, San Francisco police showed up at AT&T Park in riot gear. A lot of cops, none of them wearing celebration smiles. When the fans instantly filled the plaza, they also closed down street traffic along King and Third, the sidewalks and even the air -- as they also filled the atmosphere with spritzing and splashing champagne. Many fans elevated themselves up on light poles and shouted out their amazement and delight that the hometown team had done it again -- just two years later. A special parade for the team is set for Wednesday.

There were scattered reports of partying: Someone set a bonfire in the Mission; some happy fans were riding on top of buses on Market Street; and at least one car was flipped over. A number of broken bottles and windows did not survive what was described as numerous fits of orange and black, smiling insanity going off all over town — all over the Bay Area..

The essence of the happiness all over the region was elegantly expressed by Junior Pelaez, 21, a fan who held up his broom and chanted "MVP." In summing up the feeling of being a fan of a championship team, he said, "I felt fireworks in my heart. The trophy is coming home. It belongs here."